No one ever said life as a Sikh is going to be easy. Changing times
present new challenges, yet the basic principles of Sikhism can help us
through the tough times and we always have Guru Gobind Singh ji as an
example. Read on as Harj tells us how to deal with bullying and everyday
problems.

Guru Gobind Singh was the tenth and last human Sikh Prophet. All four of his
children were martyred. The two youngest were bricked alive by the generals of
the emperor Aurangzeb, whilst the two eldest were martyred in battles against
the Mughals. When the Guru was asked if he had felt hurt that two innocent
children were bricked alive without a sense of remorse by the Mughals and that
the two elders had been martyred in battle, the Guru remarked that Char mue
tho kiya hooa, jivath kayi hazaar - "What if four of my children
have been killed such, for I have many thousands still alive".

The Guru fought four battles against oppression, none of these were in the
interests of power or land, all four battles were in defense. His father - the
great Guru Teg Bahadar was beheaded by the Mughal authorities because he dared
to stand up for the Hindus who had been delivered an ultimatum - convert to
Islam or face mass slaughter. The tenth Guru was assassinated by two Mughals,
after being attacked, the Guru called for a Sikh by the name Bhai Banda Singh
- he was handed the authority of leadership and was asked to travel to the
Punjab and propagate the Sikh faith. On that occasion, Banda Singh - who was
also a great warrior - asked permission to reap revenge on the murderers of
his children. The Guru denied such permission for he did not feel
bitterness for the killers and forgave them.

Today events are different and we do not hesitate in gathering together the
'lads' when somebody makes a remark which slightly defiles our character. We
even feel remorse and anger when one of our Sikh brothers buys a bigger house,
gets a better job and drives a nicer car than us ! Create no enemies, but if
you have, then show that you are stronger than them by not raising your fist.
Hit them mentally by not avenging their remarks or actions. Do Unto others as
you would have done unto thyself. Forgive your enemies and Waheguru shall
forgive you. In attempting to display our strength, we display our greatest
mental weakness.